The left side is 扌, a compressed form of 手 (hand). The right side 丁 is a sound hint, not a meaning part. The core picture is simple: a hand doing something. Chinese stretches that one image into a huge family of actions — hit a ball, fetch water, type, make a call.
English says 'make a phone call', but Chinese uses 打, not 做.
You don't hit the computer. To open it, say 打开电脑 or 开电脑.
打 is for sports you hit or shoot; 玩 is for messing around with things.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Ball sport | 打篮球 / 打网球 | 玩篮球 |
| Phone | 玩手机 | 打手机 (usually means call a cell) |
打车 is hailing a taxi; 开车 is you driving; 坐车 is just riding.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Hail a taxi | 打车 | 打一辆车 (odd unless you mean a specific car) |
| You drive | 开车 | 打车 (means you called a taxi) |
| Just ride | 坐车 | 打车 (implies taxi specifically) |
Both work, but 给他打电话 is the everyday order; 打电话给他 sounds southern and casual.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standard order | 我给他打电话 | 我打电话他 |
| Southern / casual | 我打电话给他 | 我打电话他 |
| With time | 我明天给他打电话 | 我给他明天打电话 |
开 is general 'open / turn on'; 打开 stresses the result — you open it up.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Door | 开门 / 打开门 | 开开门 (sounds babyish) |
| Computer | 打开电脑 | 打电脑 |
| Book | 打开书 | 打书 |
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
那你网球还 打 吗？
B：不 打 了。
打 一次要一百多，现在我只在马路上慢跑了。
别人 打球 我看球，别人 打车 我走路。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
谁看见我的大白猫大白，请 打电话 给三号房间。”
我写了找猫的话，天天有人 打电话 问我‘老先生，猫找到了吗’。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
我的男朋友 打电话 给我：“喂？
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
超市非常小，电脑没脑子，电话不能 打 。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
Ａ：你喜欢踢足球和 打 篮球吗？
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
最厉害的是，他在淝水之战中指挥东晋军队，以八万人 打败 了号称百万的前秦军队，保住了自己的国家。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
他给爸爸妈妈 打 了个电话，问他们那边怎么样。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
到家了我就让保姆煮一碗清汤面， 打 两个蛋。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
元真把带来的一个小包 打开 ，里面是十块饼干，黄黄的，有着新烤出来的奶油的香味。
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
前天同学 打电话 。
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!
